Racket handle



Apfil21,19 12. 4TA, DAV@ 2,280,382

RAGKET HANDLE Filed Nov. 19, 1940 7,Patented Apr. 21', 1942 UNITED j STATES ATENT OFFIC y 2,280,382 u RACKET HANDLE l rrheophiius A. Davis, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 19, 1940, Serial No. 366,198 l 2 claims. (myers-75) This invention relates generally to handlesfor rackets such as tennis, badminton, or squash raclrets andthe like, the general purpose of the invention being the provision of a racket'handle having an improved grip and improved feelf The conventional tennis racket handle is formed with eight plane sides. The feel of the longitudinal edges defining these sides aids the player in applying his hand to theyhandle with the proper grip, and these edges also tend to prevent rotational slippage of the racket handle in the hand While striking the ball,

A particular object of the present invention is to provide circumferential formations which will tend `to `prevent longitudinal slippage of the racket handle in the hand, and also, preferably,

additional `longitudinal formations "which will` still further reduce rotational slippage `of the racket handle in the hand. i

, 4The present invention provides a racket handle having, underneath the usual leather sheath or Wrapping, circumferential groovings, or a corn-y bination of circumferential groovings and longiutudinal groovings. The leather wrapping is pref- Herably pressed into these groovings andglued. The result is a leather Wrapped racket handle having circumferential grooves, or both circumferential and longitudinal grooves, butwithout grooving or otherwise weakening theleather itself. The leather wrapping is thus unweakened,

vA sheath or wrapping ls of leather or the like u ,isthen glued to the handle, preferably with the and a durable handle of substantially improved u grip characteristics is afforded.`

l The invention will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain typical embodiments, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which: Y

` Fig. 1 is an elevation, with parts broken away, of one form `of racket handle in accordance with the invention; i u

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a viewsirnilar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification; and

Fig.- 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing, numeral Ill designates a racket handle of :any usual or desired construction, `shown tohave the conventional cross-sectional formation. In the form of Figs. l and Zthis han dle is provided throughout the grip portion of its lengthwith a multiplicity of circumferential grooves `l I,kr spaced preferably aboutas illustrated. Preferably, though not necessarily, these grooves meetvon themselves, i. e., are notspiral, this having the'advantage that the handle then feels the same in the hand regardless of which racket face is Abeing used. The grooves are preferably l f Fig. 1, the edges of the grooves being beveled, as

luse of casein glue, being pressed well into the grooves as illustrated. This wrapping is ordinarily and preferably a strip of grip leather, Wound -spirally on the handle, and fastened or finished off at the ends in any conventional manner. The leather Wrapping is of uniform thickness, and its natural or finished surfaces remain undisturbed and unweakened at any place. After wrapping the leather on the handle, it is preferably pressed into the grooves by mechanical means, such as by the use of appropriate rollers, so that it will become glued to the surfaces oi the grooves. However, the leather does not thus have to be initially pressed and glued within the grooves, since the hand pressure of the playery will press the leather into the grooves, and itv will ultimately set in that position.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the use of additional circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves I5, these being preferably of the same cross-sectional Yformation as the previously described circumferential grooves il, and the leather wrapping i3 being pressed down in the longitudinal grooves the same as in the circumferential grooves. Other than for the additional provision of the longitudinal grooves, the handle of Figs. 3 and 4 may be the same as that of Figs. l and 2.

I have thus provided a handle formation having improved grip characteristics by virtue of the provision of circumferential grooves, or circumferential and longitudinal grooves, but without in any way weakening `the leather wrapping. The grooved formation as described and illustrated lessens the tendency for the racket to slip in the hand, improves the feel of the racket handle, and increases the players sense of control over the racket.

I claim: s 1. A racket handle having 4longitudinally spaced, circumferential, handle encircling grooves sunk in its surface, said grooves dening va plurality of handle surfaces, and an exterior sheath of leather or the like closely engaging said handle surfaces dened by the grooves, pressed into the grooves, and secured by adhesive to both the handle surfaces and thel groove surfaces. l

2. 'A racket handle having longitudinally spaced, circumferential, handle encircling grooves and circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves sunk in its surface, said grooves deilning a plurality of handle surfaces, and an eX- terior sheath of leather or the like closely engaging said handle surfaces between the grooves, pressed into the grooves, and secured by adhesive to both the handle surfaces and the groove surfaces.

THEOPHILUS .AL DAVIS, 

